Owen Coyle’s Bolton thrashed Wigan in this crucial relegation six pointer at the Reebok. Johann Elmander put the Trotters ahead with his first Premier League goal since December.
Further goals from Kevin Davies, Fabrice Muamba and Matty Taylor secured an easy home win for Wanderers to help pull them away from the danger zone.
Liverpool’s hopes for a top four finish took a bashing as Rafa Benitez’s Anfield side fell to a Wigan side who battled for an important victory at the DW Stadium.
Hugo Rodallega scored the all important goal that sees the Latics move up two places. Liverpool had plenty of chances to level matters and put the home side under a great deal of late pressure but failed to find the finishing touch to beat former keeper Chris Kirkland.
The defeat leaves the Merseyside outfit in sixth place and means they have a tough road ahead to overhaul Tottenham and Manchester City for that all important Champions League spot.
Having scored five past a hapless Wigan side earlier in the season you would be forgiven for thinking that Jermain Defoe is a feared man for the Latics defence and so it proved as the Tottenham striker opened the scoring for the White Hart Lane side.
Harry Redknapp’s side maintained the pressure on fellow top four chasing sides by clinching the win at the DW Stadium when Roman Pavlyuchenko scored a second late on and added a third in the dying seconds of the game to help push the Russians claim for a first team spot.
The win puts Spurs back into fourth place after Liverpool and Man City played out a dull goalless draw. Next up for the north London side is a home fixture against a resurgent Everton side who may themselves harbour hopes for an outside shot at a coveted Champions League spot.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United side were in imperious mood at Old Trafford as they tore apart a hapless Wigan side in this festive fixture. Once again Wayne Rooney was in fine form scoring the first with a nice finish.
Manchester United ran riot from that point onwards and goals from Michael Carrick, Rafael and Dimitar Berbatov saw them four up after 50 minutes. Luis Antonio Valencia put away a fifth to cap a fine individual performance from the Ecuadorian again his former employers.
The win puts Manchester United just two points off Chelsea at the top of the table and keeps them ahead of resurgent Arsenal.
Liverpool Midfield Marvel Gerrard, Arsenal Skipper Fabregas, Tottenham Winger Lennon, Chelsea Striker Drogba, Manchester United goal machine Rooney, West Ham hit man Cole? You decide!
Liverpool secured a crucial three points at home to Wigan thanks to goals from David Ngog and Fernando Torres. Rafa Benitez will be glad to have captured a win in their chase for a top four finish and now Liverpool will be hoping to continue to make up ground in the coming weeks after a well deserved win over the Latics.
Liverpool showed their soft underbelly when they conceded a late goal from Charles N’Zogbia leaving Liverpool fans biting their nails hoping for the final whistle.